<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000797468</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OXY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250412</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HURST JOHN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1500</value>
            </transactionShares>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom stock units</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>20000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>20.0625</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-07-19</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-07-19</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1661</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>20.0625</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-07-19</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-07-19</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>18339</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>26.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-07-11</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-07-11</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>7476</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>26.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-07-11</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-07-11</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>62524</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>26.43</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-07-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5044</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>26.43</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-07-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>74956</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>31.13</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-07-16</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-07-16</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>80000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units to be settled for common stock upon retirement or termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vested in three equal annual installments beginning on July 19, 2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on July 11, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on July 17, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on July 16, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ CHRISTEL H. PAULI, Attorney-in-Fact for John L. Hurst</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

